Exploring the distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in surface water and wildlife from the Galápagos Islands

Qaim Mehdi; Lauren E. Blackman; Gregory A. Lewbart; Juan Pablo Muñoz-Pérez; Daniela Alarcón-Ruales; Diego Páez-Rosas; Joe Aufmuth; John A. Bowden

doi:10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104438

Exploring the distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in surface water and wildlife from the Galápagos Islands

Qaim Mehdi
, Lauren E. Blackman
, Gregory A. Lewbart
, Juan Pablo Muñoz-Pérez
, Daniela Alarcón-Ruales
, Diego Páez-Rosas
, Joe Aufmuth
, John A. Bowden^*

^*Autor correspondiente de este trabajo

University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine
North Carolina State University
Universidad San Francisco de Quito
University of the Sunshine Coast
Fundación Conservando Galápagos
Direccion Parque Nacional Galapagos
University of Florida

Producción científica: Contribución a una revista › Artículo › revisión exhaustiva

4 Citas (Scopus)

Resumen

PFAS are ubiquitous in the environment and have been detected in remote areas due to their persistence and potential long-range transport capabilities. We conducted a survey to explore the distribution of PFAS in surface water and wildlife from the Galápagos archipelago. Overall, 8 out of 21 PFAS were detected in 24 surface water samples, with PFOA and PFNA having the highest detection rates (79 % of samples). Plasma samples were obtained from marine iguanas (n = 24), black-striped salemas (n = 6), and Galápagos sea lions (n = 14). Marine iguanas and black-striped salemas had only PFNA and PFTrDA quantified, respectively, whereas Galápagos sea lions exhibited a myriad of long-chain PFAS, with L-PFOS and PFCAs (C9 - C13) showing 100 % detection rates. Our results confirmed the presence of PFAS in the Galápagos archipelago, emphasizing that further research is needed to better understand the impact of these contaminants in suspected pristine and remote ecosystems.

Idioma original	Inglés
Número de artículo	104438
Publicación	Regional Studies in Marine Science
Volumen	90
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104438
Estado	Publicada - 15 dic 2025

ODS de las Naciones Unidas

Este resultado contribuye a los siguientes Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible

ODS 14: Vida submarina

Acceder al documento

10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104438

Otros archivos y enlaces

Enlace a la publicación en Scopus

Recent Findings from University of Florida Provides New Insights into Marine Science [Exploring the Distribution of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (Pfas) In Surface Water and Wildlife From the Galapagos Islands]
Páez Rosas, D. & Muñoz Pérez, J. P.
12/12/25
1 elemento de Cobertura del medio de comunicación
Prensa/medios de comunicación

Citar esto

Mehdi, Q., Blackman, L. E., Lewbart, G. A., Muñoz-Pérez, J. P., Alarcón-Ruales, D., Páez-Rosas, D., Aufmuth, J., & Bowden, J. A. (2025). Exploring the distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in surface water and wildlife from the Galápagos Islands. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 90, Artículo 104438. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104438

@article{ac7fa9a1cd2e4803afd1b62428b1cf30,

title = "Exploring the distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in surface water and wildlife from the Gal{\'a}pagos Islands",

abstract = "PFAS are ubiquitous in the environment and have been detected in remote areas due to their persistence and potential long-range transport capabilities. We conducted a survey to explore the distribution of PFAS in surface water and wildlife from the Gal{\'a}pagos archipelago. Overall, 8 out of 21 PFAS were detected in 24 surface water samples, with PFOA and PFNA having the highest detection rates (79 \% of samples). Plasma samples were obtained from marine iguanas (n = 24), black-striped salemas (n = 6), and Gal{\'a}pagos sea lions (n = 14). Marine iguanas and black-striped salemas had only PFNA and PFTrDA quantified, respectively, whereas Gal{\'a}pagos sea lions exhibited a myriad of long-chain PFAS, with L-PFOS and PFCAs (C9 - C13) showing 100 \% detection rates. Our results confirmed the presence of PFAS in the Gal{\'a}pagos archipelago, emphasizing that further research is needed to better understand the impact of these contaminants in suspected pristine and remote ecosystems.",

keywords = "Emerging contaminants, Gal{\'a}pagos archipelago, Marine ecotoxicology, Plasma, Remote locations, Surface water",

author = "Qaim Mehdi and Blackman, \{Lauren E.\} and Lewbart, \{Gregory A.\} and Mu{\~n}oz-P{\'e}rez, \{Juan Pablo\} and Daniela Alarc{\'o}n-Ruales and Diego P{\'a}ez-Rosas and Joe Aufmuth and Bowden, \{John A.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2025",

month = dec,

day = "15",

doi = "10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104438",

language = "Ingl{\'e}s",

volume = "90",

journal = "Regional Studies in Marine Science",

issn = "2352-4855",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Exploring the distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in surface water and wildlife from the Galápagos Islands

AU - Mehdi, Qaim

AU - Blackman, Lauren E.

AU - Lewbart, Gregory A.

AU - Muñoz-Pérez, Juan Pablo

AU - Alarcón-Ruales, Daniela

AU - Páez-Rosas, Diego

AU - Aufmuth, Joe

AU - Bowden, John A.

PY - 2025/12/15

Y1 - 2025/12/15

N2 - PFAS are ubiquitous in the environment and have been detected in remote areas due to their persistence and potential long-range transport capabilities. We conducted a survey to explore the distribution of PFAS in surface water and wildlife from the Galápagos archipelago. Overall, 8 out of 21 PFAS were detected in 24 surface water samples, with PFOA and PFNA having the highest detection rates (79 % of samples). Plasma samples were obtained from marine iguanas (n = 24), black-striped salemas (n = 6), and Galápagos sea lions (n = 14). Marine iguanas and black-striped salemas had only PFNA and PFTrDA quantified, respectively, whereas Galápagos sea lions exhibited a myriad of long-chain PFAS, with L-PFOS and PFCAs (C9 - C13) showing 100 % detection rates. Our results confirmed the presence of PFAS in the Galápagos archipelago, emphasizing that further research is needed to better understand the impact of these contaminants in suspected pristine and remote ecosystems.

AB - PFAS are ubiquitous in the environment and have been detected in remote areas due to their persistence and potential long-range transport capabilities. We conducted a survey to explore the distribution of PFAS in surface water and wildlife from the Galápagos archipelago. Overall, 8 out of 21 PFAS were detected in 24 surface water samples, with PFOA and PFNA having the highest detection rates (79 % of samples). Plasma samples were obtained from marine iguanas (n = 24), black-striped salemas (n = 6), and Galápagos sea lions (n = 14). Marine iguanas and black-striped salemas had only PFNA and PFTrDA quantified, respectively, whereas Galápagos sea lions exhibited a myriad of long-chain PFAS, with L-PFOS and PFCAs (C9 - C13) showing 100 % detection rates. Our results confirmed the presence of PFAS in the Galápagos archipelago, emphasizing that further research is needed to better understand the impact of these contaminants in suspected pristine and remote ecosystems.

KW - Emerging contaminants

KW - Galápagos archipelago

KW - Marine ecotoxicology

KW - Plasma

KW - Remote locations

KW - Surface water

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105014526201

U2 - 10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104438

DO - 10.1016/j.rsma.2025.104438

M3 - Artículo

AN - SCOPUS:105014526201

SN - 2352-4855

VL - 90

JO - Regional Studies in Marine Science

JF - Regional Studies in Marine Science

M1 - 104438

ER -

Exploring the distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in surface water and wildlife from the Galápagos Islands

Resumen

ODS de las Naciones Unidas

Acceder al documento

Otros archivos y enlaces

Huella

Prensa/Medios de comunicación

Recent Findings from University of Florida Provides New Insights into Marine Science [Exploring the Distribution of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (Pfas) In Surface Water and Wildlife From the Galapagos Islands]

Citar esto